1926
Claire
2013
Claire E. Kenney
July 17, 1926 — June 23, 2013
Norwood – Mrs. Claire E. (Nyman) Kenney, of Norwood, formerly of Hyde Park, died peacefully at home on Sunday, June 23, 2013 surrounded by her loving family. She was 86.
Claire was born in Boston on July 17, 1926, the daughter of the late Carl and Susan (Grady) Nyman. She grew up in Bel Nel Village in Mattapan and graduated from Dorchester High School for Girls in 1943.
On September 6, 1948 she married Francis E. "Bud" Kenney of Hyde Park. They were married for 62 years until Bud's death in December, 2010. Claire was a homemaker for many years taking great pride in raising her four children, Frank, Anne, Carl, and Jeanne. Sundays were the highlight of her week as she cooked her signature roast beef dinners, featuring "chocolate" gravy for her enthusiastic and appreciative family. She enjoyed the social times with the other neighborhood mothers and was a charter member of the GTAA (Gabbers/Talkers Association of America). There were no problems that could not be solved by that group of women. As the family grew, Claire worked outside the home for the City of Boston as a security aide at Hyde Park High School, enjoying the relationships she developed with many of the employees and the students whose safety she ensured.
Claire loved to travel and saw many Broadway Shows during the 1950's and 60's. She could often be heard singing and humming her favorite show tunes. She loved to accompany Bud on his annual First Marine Division memorial conventions across the United States. For their 25th anniversary, Bud and Claire received a trip to Las Vegas from their children. This would be the first of over 30 visits to Las Vegas where the entertainment and the slot machines lured her in and provided her great enjoyment. A lifelong risk-taker, she enjoyed the dog track, the Lottery, and Keno; converting dreams, conversations and events into winning combinations. She was also a great sports fan who enjoyed the Red Sox, Patriots and Bruins. Most Sundays the entire growing family gathered for dinner or cookouts while watching these events. Lively discussions of players' skills marked many of these gatherings.
In addition to her husband, Bud, she was also the sister of the late Thomas Hanlon of Dedham and MM3 Carl F. Nyman, USN who was killed during World War II while serving aboard the Navy destroyer USS Buck patrolling the Mediterranean Sea.
She leaves her children, Francis E. Kenney, III and his wife, Jean, of Walpole, Anne Archer and her husband, Ralph, of Middletown, Connecticut, Carl Kenney and his wife, Patricia, of Westwood and Jeanne Barbieri and her husband, James, of Peabody; her grandchildren, Ralph J. Archer, IV and his wife, Andrea, Joseph Archer and his wife, Denise, Jeffrey C. Kenney, Kaitlyn Kenney Walsh and her husband, Liam, John Archer and his wife, Steffanie, Kathryn Kenney Callahan and her husband, Matthew, Amanda Barbieri Petrosino and her husband, Alan, Courtney D. Kenney, Patricia Barbieri Moreau and her husband, Joseph, Carl N. Kenney, Jr. and his fiancée, Jen Dowson, Christopher F. Kenney and his wife, Kathleen and James H. Kenney; her great-grandchildren, Will and Ivie Archer, Delaney and Reece Archer, Brady Archer, Charlotte Kenney, Abigael, Olivia and Jase Moreau, Maeve Callahan, Connor Walsh and Zoey Petrosino and many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends will honor and remember Claire's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Wednesday, June 26th, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Thursday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham, where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne at 1 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to The Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.
Claire was born in Boston on July 17, 1926, the daughter of the late Carl and Susan (Grady) Nyman. She grew up in Bel Nel Village in Mattapan and graduated from Dorchester High School for Girls in 1943.
On September 6, 1948 she married Francis E. "Bud" Kenney of Hyde Park. They were married for 62 years until Bud's death in December, 2010. Claire was a homemaker for many years taking great pride in raising her four children, Frank, Anne, Carl, and Jeanne. Sundays were the highlight of her week as she cooked her signature roast beef dinners, featuring "chocolate" gravy for her enthusiastic and appreciative family. She enjoyed the social times with the other neighborhood mothers and was a charter member of the GTAA (Gabbers/Talkers Association of America). There were no problems that could not be solved by that group of women. As the family grew, Claire worked outside the home for the City of Boston as a security aide at Hyde Park High School, enjoying the relationships she developed with many of the employees and the students whose safety she ensured.
Claire loved to travel and saw many Broadway Shows during the 1950's and 60's. She could often be heard singing and humming her favorite show tunes. She loved to accompany Bud on his annual First Marine Division memorial conventions across the United States. For their 25th anniversary, Bud and Claire received a trip to Las Vegas from their children. This would be the first of over 30 visits to Las Vegas where the entertainment and the slot machines lured her in and provided her great enjoyment. A lifelong risk-taker, she enjoyed the dog track, the Lottery, and Keno; converting dreams, conversations and events into winning combinations. She was also a great sports fan who enjoyed the Red Sox, Patriots and Bruins. Most Sundays the entire growing family gathered for dinner or cookouts while watching these events. Lively discussions of players' skills marked many of these gatherings.
In addition to her husband, Bud, she was also the sister of the late Thomas Hanlon of Dedham and MM3 Carl F. Nyman, USN who was killed during World War II while serving aboard the Navy destroyer USS Buck patrolling the Mediterranean Sea.
She leaves her children, Francis E. Kenney, III and his wife, Jean, of Walpole, Anne Archer and her husband, Ralph, of Middletown, Connecticut, Carl Kenney and his wife, Patricia, of Westwood and Jeanne Barbieri and her husband, James, of Peabody; her grandchildren, Ralph J. Archer, IV and his wife, Andrea, Joseph Archer and his wife, Denise, Jeffrey C. Kenney, Kaitlyn Kenney Walsh and her husband, Liam, John Archer and his wife, Steffanie, Kathryn Kenney Callahan and her husband, Matthew, Amanda Barbieri Petrosino and her husband, Alan, Courtney D. Kenney, Patricia Barbieri Moreau and her husband, Joseph, Carl N. Kenney, Jr. and his fiancée, Jen Dowson, Christopher F. Kenney and his wife, Kathleen and James H. Kenney; her great-grandchildren, Will and Ivie Archer, Delaney and Reece Archer, Brady Archer, Charlotte Kenney, Abigael, Olivia and Jase Moreau, Maeve Callahan, Connor Walsh and Zoey Petrosino and many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends will honor and remember Claire's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Wednesday, June 26th, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Thursday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham, where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne at 1 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to The Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Claire E. Kenney, please visit our flower store.
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